corbel

[ kawr-buhl ]

noun

1. any bracket, especially one of brick or stone, usually of slight extent.
2. a short horizontal timber supporting a girder.

verb (used with object)

, cor·beled, cor·bel·ing or (especially British) cor·belled, cor·bel·ling.

1. to set (bricks, stones, etc.) so as to form a corbel or corbels (usually followed by out ).
2. to support by means of a corbel or corbels.

corbel

/ ˈkɔːbəl /

noun

1. Also calledtruss a bracket, usually of stone or brick

verb

1. tr to lay (a stone or brick) so that it forms a corbel

Word History and Origins

Origin of corbel¹

1375–1425; late Middle English < Middle French < Medieval Latin corvellus, equivalent to Latin corv ( us ) raven ¹ + -ellus diminutive suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of corbel¹

C15: from Old French, literally: a little raven, from Medieval Latin corvellus, from Latin corvus raven

Example Sentences

A fine and noteworthy feature in this church is the corbel table which runs nearly all round it.

From Project Gutenberg

A legend is connected with a corbel stone near the west end of the north aisle.

From Project Gutenberg

The crevice from which he had just issued ended in a narrow and slippery projection, a species of corbel in the peaked wall.

From Project Gutenberg

There is also an unbroken corbel table above the windows, of very expressive, life-like heads, no two of which are alike.

From Project Gutenberg

Above this is a corbel table of heads and mouldings which interferes with the upper window mouldings.

From Project Gutenberg